More than a decade ago, Bridget Sloan etched her name in Florida gymnastics lore as the leader of a Florida Gators squad that won three straight NCAA titles from 2013-15.
As a result, Sloan received one of the highest honors a UF athlete can attain as she learned she would inducted into the 2026 UF Athletics Hall of Fame class on April 15.
The induction news came as a pleasant surprise from Florida gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland. Sloan, who is on the broadcast team for ESPN2 at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, was interviewing Rowland at the event when Rowland broke the news back to her that she had been selected for induction.
“I’m beyond honored by this recognition,” Sloan said. “Competing for Florida and representing Gator Nation meant everything to me. That time for Gator gymnastics was so special, and being part of those teams will always be something I’m incredibly proud of.”
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, the 33-year-old Sloan arrived on UF’s campus in 2012 with pedigree, having won a team silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2009 All-Around World Championships in London, England.
At UF, Sloan won six individual NCAA Championships, including the All-Around competitions in 2013 and 2016. She remains Florida’s career leader with 16 All-America honors and was the first Florida gymnast to earn SEC Female Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Sloan finished her Florida career as the school leader for: Event titles (95), 10.0 marks (8) and All-Around wins (27).
The remainder of the UF Athletics Hall of Fame class will be announced at a later date. Florida athletes become eligible for the Hall of Fame 10 years after completing their Gator career, Sloan is the ninth Gator gymnast to be inducted into the UF Athletics Hall of Fame, joining joining Kristin Guise (1993-96), Corey Hartung (2006-09), Kytra Hunter (2012-15), Lynn McDonnell (1981-84), Melissa Miller (1986-89), Elfi Schlegel (1983-86), Chrissy Van Fleet (1997-2000) and Ann Woods (1980-82).
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators national champion gymnast Bridget Sloan inducted into 2026 UF HOF class
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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